City of Bridgeport Lighthouse Program

The OJJDP FY 09 Earmarks Programs further the Department's mission by providing grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, to organizations identified in the Explanatory Statement Regarding H.R. 1105 (Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009), 155 Cong. Rec. H1653 (daily ed. Feb. 23, 2009) (statement by Rep. Obey, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations of the House).
Bridgeport is Connecticut's largest city. As similar cities of the same size and composition, Bridgeport is plagued by unemployment, crime, and social alienation of students who fail to achieve the rigorous educational goals established by the state. When in 1993 economic and social problems increased to proportions that necessitated immediate and major interventions, the Lighthouse Program was launched resulting in significant youth crime reduction. The proposed program is designed to keep Bridgeport youth safe and healthy, reducing the incidence of juvenile crime and promoting academic achievement, and socially and environmentally responsible behavior. Approximately 600 urban youth per day, all of whom qualify for free/reduced lunch, in 5public schools serving grades K-8, will have access to an array of academic, recreational, and health activities including homework help, thematic studies, physical education, special needs services, cultural and performing arts programs, training and employment programs, and organized sports. Progress toward the goals of the proposed program will be measured formatively through site visits and summatively by an outside evaluator with expertise in outcome driven quality after school and summer programming. Past experience showed that implementation of proposed activities leads to academic success, reduction in juvenile crime, and more responsible youth. NCA/NCF